IAN URQUHART SARAWAK CINEREEL 01 of 23
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- Publication date
- 1955
- Usage
- Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International




- Topics
- Cinereel, Silent Standard 8mm, Sarawak, Malaysia, Borneo
- Rights
- Unless stated otherwise all rights for commercial use is retained by the Urquhart family (Alexa Young, Neil Urquhart and Murdo Urquhart).
- Item Size
- 3.3G
Filmed on Silent Standard 8mm film by former British civil service officer, Ian Urquhart in Baram District, 4th Division, Sarawak, Malaysia, 1954-1965. Restored and digitised at 24fps. Ian's annotations have been transcribed in their original form. Known acronyms are described. See below for more information about Ian Urquhart.
Reel 01 Annotations
In Baram District , 4th Division - My first Kelabit trip early 1955.
Having lost my notes taken on this trip I have had to rely on my memory for the details given below.
Going up the Baram starting from Marudi in my long boat accompanied by a Kelabit woman who had asked me for a lift. Note the tattooing on her arm. View in the distance as we approach the Govt. Fort at Long Akah, where my party switched to 3 largish local outboards.
Because the water in the Akah River was high and fast the boats proceeded where possible by outboard power but often, due to the speed of the water, supplemented by the crew's poling or paddling and, if the rapids were impassable, we had to draw into the side and the passengers disembarked and walked up the rocky water's edge while the crew would tow and/or pole the boats round the rapids. Note the expertise of the local people, with bare feet, walking waist high in the water on invisible and, often very sharp and slippery rocks against the strong current. Each man seems to know, without being ordered, what part to play in this drama. Imagine the effect should a man slip and fall. The plump man in black shorts is Jok Ngau, a Kayan and Penghulu of the Akah River houses. Light green patches on the hillside are areas of dry hill rice planting.
At each obstacle the outboard driver at the back fits in with the instruction of the bowman, each taking into account the weight of the boat, the speed of the water at that particular place and the strength of the engine.
Two boats (including mine) decide at the last moment to abandon the attempt to go round a big rock in the middle of the river and moved to the left to tie up on the riverbank. From my boat I filmed the third boat starting to go past the rock under power but despite the help of polers, it first slowed to a standstill (a dangerous procedure as the odd wave was higher than the boat's side and flowed in steadily) and then slowly the boat began to float downstream, while some of the crew were baling out and the rest trying to keep the boat facing upstream. At this point I had to change the film in my camera! The man in a bush hat is a policeman. When naked, men always cover their genitals.
As the river got shallower and the flood water was lessening, at one longhouse my party had to change into more but smaller boats. Olga (pet dog) is held by Mat my boy [assistant].
Transporting luggage from emptied boats and pulling a boat overland. Jok Ngau is in black shorts.
We arrived at Long Lellang, a Kelabit longhouse. Jok Ngau is now in a pinky mauve striped shirt. We are welcomed by the school band (bamboo 'flutes' and 'recorders'). The man with medals is the Kelabit chief headman, Penghulu Lawai, MBE. There are two school teachers.
Next day we started walking to spend a night in the jungle at a semi-permanent rickety shelter and then reached Pa Tik then Kubaan and then Baario having crossed various mountain ranges. Note the frequency of very steep paths often having to step on rocks, tree trunks or tree roots.
The reason for some women porters is firstly that the women are strong and secondly, they prefer their menfolk to get on with the farming.
Note leech bites on Olga (pet dog) and a leech on a log and on a leaf and, moving onto a foot. They are fond of biting between the toes or on an ankle for easy access to blood.
We stopped in the late afternoon to prepare for our night stop in a ruined shelter that needed repairs here and there. Note bringing in firewood and rubbing two sticks to make a spark. When crossing a stream, the strength of the current and the sharpness and slipperiness of the stones did not help me keep my balance.
From the photography point of view, the camera cannot cope in the jungle, as does the eye, with areas of deep shade and shafts of blindingly bright sunlight at the same time. The clarity or otherwise of the pictures of the porters illustrate this problem.
We rested in a saddle and looked down below on to a Kelabit longhouse, Pa Tik, and surrounding rice fields. Going downhill I am clearly not as steady on my feet as the barefoot locals. Note wild raspberries as we reach Pa Tik. Enjoyable afternoon relaxing by the stream and washing clothes.
N.O. Andria with white towel round neck.
Walking on to Kubaan there is a view of the longhouse area from the watershed. We are high enough for tree ferns of a sort that, I was told, only occur here and in New Zealand! Ground orchid.
Kubaan longhouse and nearby Borneo Evangelical Mission airstrip. Baario with its sub-sub office, flag and airstrip. The two Kelabits are Upriver Agent Berauk on the right and his aged father.
On the journey from Baario to Lio Matoh I visited the longhouses at Pa Lungan, Pa Umor, Pa Mein, Pa Bangar, Ramudu, Pa Dali, Batu Patong on the Kelabit plateau and then over Apo Masia Mountain to Long Peluan and Long Banga, some of which appear on the film.
Murud Mountain, 8,000 ft, stands out in the distance.
A man sharpening his parang.
There is no salt in the upriver areas. Near a longhouse a spring bubbles up. The water is collected, evaporated, and its deposit consists of a dirty grey coloured salt flavoured with iodine.
The pool is much appreciated by local flora and is an economic asset. Note the very close tattoo pattern on Kelabit females’ legs and arms.
Men are digging away invading mud from the lower part of a large rock which is, I presume, near Batu Patong as 'batu' means rock. It has a design carved into it and painted long ago by unknown people. It has an Excalibur-like cleft in it with a Kelabit demonstrating this with his parang.
At Pa Mein note a school band, football, a Kelabit girl, more football and hill rice padi fields.
An ixora in flower.
View from a cliff top looking down far below on to the Baram River, the mission airstrip and Lio Matoh Fort, upriver of which the river divides into hundreds of islands and ceases to be navigable. Inside the gloom of the Fort.
N.O. Andria on a chair. Mat in a green shirt and carrying a gun.
My longboat had come from Long Akah to meet me. Going downriver looking back at the high cliff top from where the view to Lio Matoh had been taken.
Going up the Baram starting from Marudi in my long boat accompanied by a Kelabit woman who had asked me for a lift. Note the tattooing on her arm. View in the distance as we approach the Govt. Fort at Long Akah, where my party switched to 3 largish local outboards.
Because the water in the Akah River was high and fast the boats proceeded where possible by outboard power but often, due to the speed of the water, supplemented by the crew's poling or paddling and, if the rapids were impassable, we had to draw into the side and the passengers disembarked and walked up the rocky water's edge while the crew would tow and/or pole the boats round the rapids. Note the expertise of the local people, with bare feet, walking waist high in the water on invisible and, often very sharp and slippery rocks against the strong current. Each man seems to know, without being ordered, what part to play in this drama. Imagine the effect should a man slip and fall. The plump man in black shorts is Jok Ngau, a Kayan and Penghulu of the Akah River houses. Light green patches on the hillside are areas of dry hill rice planting.
At each obstacle the outboard driver at the back fits in with the instruction of the bowman, each taking into account the weight of the boat, the speed of the water at that particular place and the strength of the engine.
Two boats (including mine) decide at the last moment to abandon the attempt to go round a big rock in the middle of the river and moved to the left to tie up on the riverbank. From my boat I filmed the third boat starting to go past the rock under power but despite the help of polers, it first slowed to a standstill (a dangerous procedure as the odd wave was higher than the boat's side and flowed in steadily) and then slowly the boat began to float downstream, while some of the crew were baling out and the rest trying to keep the boat facing upstream. At this point I had to change the film in my camera! The man in a bush hat is a policeman. When naked, men always cover their genitals.
As the river got shallower and the flood water was lessening, at one longhouse my party had to change into more but smaller boats. Olga (pet dog) is held by Mat my boy [assistant].
Transporting luggage from emptied boats and pulling a boat overland. Jok Ngau is in black shorts.
We arrived at Long Lellang, a Kelabit longhouse. Jok Ngau is now in a pinky mauve striped shirt. We are welcomed by the school band (bamboo 'flutes' and 'recorders'). The man with medals is the Kelabit chief headman, Penghulu Lawai, MBE. There are two school teachers.
Next day we started walking to spend a night in the jungle at a semi-permanent rickety shelter and then reached Pa Tik then Kubaan and then Baario having crossed various mountain ranges. Note the frequency of very steep paths often having to step on rocks, tree trunks or tree roots.
The reason for some women porters is firstly that the women are strong and secondly, they prefer their menfolk to get on with the farming.
Note leech bites on Olga (pet dog) and a leech on a log and on a leaf and, moving onto a foot. They are fond of biting between the toes or on an ankle for easy access to blood.
We stopped in the late afternoon to prepare for our night stop in a ruined shelter that needed repairs here and there. Note bringing in firewood and rubbing two sticks to make a spark. When crossing a stream, the strength of the current and the sharpness and slipperiness of the stones did not help me keep my balance.
From the photography point of view, the camera cannot cope in the jungle, as does the eye, with areas of deep shade and shafts of blindingly bright sunlight at the same time. The clarity or otherwise of the pictures of the porters illustrate this problem.
We rested in a saddle and looked down below on to a Kelabit longhouse, Pa Tik, and surrounding rice fields. Going downhill I am clearly not as steady on my feet as the barefoot locals. Note wild raspberries as we reach Pa Tik. Enjoyable afternoon relaxing by the stream and washing clothes.
N.O. Andria with white towel round neck.
Walking on to Kubaan there is a view of the longhouse area from the watershed. We are high enough for tree ferns of a sort that, I was told, only occur here and in New Zealand! Ground orchid.
Kubaan longhouse and nearby Borneo Evangelical Mission airstrip. Baario with its sub-sub office, flag and airstrip. The two Kelabits are Upriver Agent Berauk on the right and his aged father.
On the journey from Baario to Lio Matoh I visited the longhouses at Pa Lungan, Pa Umor, Pa Mein, Pa Bangar, Ramudu, Pa Dali, Batu Patong on the Kelabit plateau and then over Apo Masia Mountain to Long Peluan and Long Banga, some of which appear on the film.
Murud Mountain, 8,000 ft, stands out in the distance.
A man sharpening his parang.
There is no salt in the upriver areas. Near a longhouse a spring bubbles up. The water is collected, evaporated, and its deposit consists of a dirty grey coloured salt flavoured with iodine.
The pool is much appreciated by local flora and is an economic asset. Note the very close tattoo pattern on Kelabit females’ legs and arms.
Men are digging away invading mud from the lower part of a large rock which is, I presume, near Batu Patong as 'batu' means rock. It has a design carved into it and painted long ago by unknown people. It has an Excalibur-like cleft in it with a Kelabit demonstrating this with his parang.
At Pa Mein note a school band, football, a Kelabit girl, more football and hill rice padi fields.
An ixora in flower.
View from a cliff top looking down far below on to the Baram River, the mission airstrip and Lio Matoh Fort, upriver of which the river divides into hundreds of islands and ceases to be navigable. Inside the gloom of the Fort.
N.O. Andria on a chair. Mat in a green shirt and carrying a gun.
My longboat had come from Long Akah to meet me. Going downriver looking back at the high cliff top from where the view to Lio Matoh had been taken.
About Ian Urquhart
Ian Urquhart was a decorated British soldier, posted to Sarawak, where he served from 1947 to 1965. A brilliant linguist with an abiding interest in learning about other people and their cultures, he was a natural fit to be a civil service officer.
In addition to his administrative duties, he studied the indigenous communities he encountered focusing on their varied languages. From 1951 to 1959, Ian published several articles published by the Sarawak Museum Journal.
It was during this period that he conducted many trips into the jungles of Sarawak, in particular the Kelabit highlands and the Ulu Baram. From 1957 his wife Bunty accompanied him and contributed to some of the filming.
It was these trips that he documented on Silent Standard/Regular 8mm colour and b/w cinefilm leaving his family and the people of Sarawak with not only a detailed account of his life there, he annotated all 30 reels, 23 of which are available in this collection.
Ian Urquhart was a decorated British soldier, posted to Sarawak, where he served from 1947 to 1965. A brilliant linguist with an abiding interest in learning about other people and their cultures, he was a natural fit to be a civil service officer.
In addition to his administrative duties, he studied the indigenous communities he encountered focusing on their varied languages. From 1951 to 1959, Ian published several articles published by the Sarawak Museum Journal.
It was during this period that he conducted many trips into the jungles of Sarawak, in particular the Kelabit highlands and the Ulu Baram. From 1957 his wife Bunty accompanied him and contributed to some of the filming.
It was these trips that he documented on Silent Standard/Regular 8mm colour and b/w cinefilm leaving his family and the people of Sarawak with not only a detailed account of his life there, he annotated all 30 reels, 23 of which are available in this collection.
Credits
Camera - Ian Urquhart
Restoration and digitization - R3store, London
Archive research and production - Andrew Garton in collaboration with Alexa Young, Neil Urquhart and Murdo Urquhart
- Contact Information
- Alexa Young - alexa@mysports.com.au
- Addeddate
- 2025-06-13 02:51:52
- Color
- color
- Identifier
- ian-urquhart-sarawak-cinereel-01
- Links
- Urquhart, Ian (2012) Sarawak Anecdotes - a personal memoir of service, 1947 – 1965
- Location
- Sarawak, Malaysia
- Run time
- 00:21:29
- Scanner
- Internet Archive HTML5 Uploader 1.7.0
- Sound
- silent
Open Library